MONROVIA, Montserrado – Internews, the implementer of the Liberia Media Development program, has begun a three-day training for rural journalists to report on electoral reform.

The training is part of its Citizens Engaged to Advance Electoral Reform in Liberia or CLEAR project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of journalists to report on electoral reform in ways that resonate with citizens across the country.

Sixteen journalists from across the country who will cover stories for The Bush Chicken and the Daily Observer newspaper are participating in the training, along with four Monrovia-based reporters.

Speaking Monday at the opening of the session in Monrovia, Internews’ chief of party, Jan McArthur, thanked the participants for their interest in electoral reform and challenged them to amplify the views of ordinary citizens on electoral reform to inform policymakers to take actions.

“The Liberia Media Development program’s goal is to increase all Liberian citizens’ access to independent and reliable information, thereby empowering them to engage in well-informed public discussion of important issues of the day,” McArthur said.

She added that the dream of CLEAR’s fellowship is to train Liberian journalists to be electoral reform experts.

The training is being facilitated by Internews’ senior community radio advisor, Jefferson Massah, and journalism advisor, Crispin Tulay, while trainers at the Liberia Media Center and editors of The Bush Chicken and the Daily Observer also co-facilitated.

Participants were drilled through the rationale for electoral reform, political and economic analysis of the process. They also explored the 2017 election findings and recommendations of the Election Coordinating Committee on the first day of the training. Day two and three of the training will also focus on the National Elections Commission’s media engagement and communications channels, its electoral reform agenda, and tips on effectively reporting on electoral reform.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah